Heath Streak

Heath Hilton Streak (born 16 March 1974) is a former Zimbabwean cricketer, and a former Test and ODI captain. By his statistical record, he is the best bowler to have played for Zimbabwe. He is the only Zimbabwean bowler to have taken over 100 Test wickets and one of only 4 Zimbabwean bowlers to have taken over 100 ODI wickets (the others being Grant Flower, Prosper Utseya & Ray Price). He is no longer the head coach of Zimbabwe national cricket team since Early 2018. He is the bowling coach for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.

In September 2018, Streak submitted an application to the court to have Zimbabwe Cricket liquidated, in relation to outstanding debts.^[1]

Domestic career

In 1995/96, Streak played in the same Matabeleland team as his 46-year-old father Denis in the final of the Lonrho Logan Cup against Mashonaland Country Districts; this was the first instance of a father and son playing in the same first-class match for more than thirty years.

On 25 April 2007, Streak resigned as Warwickshire captain, saying captaining the side was affecting his on field abilities. He was replaced as captain by Darren Maddy. At the end of the 2007 season he left Warwickshire citing family reasons.^[2]

At the end of the year of 2007, he joined the Ahmedabad Rockets in the Indian Cricket League. He played two seasons in the ICL along with appearing in the Hong Kong sixes.

In 2009, he cut his ties with ICL, and in that August was appointed as the bowling coach of Zimbabwean national team. He was also given the responsibility of working with the young Zimbabwean fast bowlers and for franchise cricket.

International career

Controversies

Heath Streak claimed in an interview in The Observer that he was faced with moral challenges in captaining Zimbabwe. He said that he was asked to falsely tell white players that they were not talented enough and were to be replaced by black players.^[4]

Sport24 asked: You have been accused of being a racist by one of the suits. Your response?

Heath Streak: I think Zimbabwe Cricket have far too often tried to use the race card as a way to deviate from the actual issues of poor governance. They need to start looking at themselves in the mirror. All the players I have coached and the people around me know me well enough. I don’t even need to try to vindicate myself or qualify why I’m not a racist. For me, the allegations of racism (by ZC board chairperson Tavengwa Mukuhlani) are actually laughable. Not only do I speak Ndebele, my wife and I have a black foster son. I was pretty upset by Mukuhlani’s comments and it’s something I’m considering taking action against in the future. The statements against me are not only defamatory, but they are also damaging. I have spent a lifetime building my reputation and for him to say something like that publicly is not acceptable. I take it extremely seriously. I agree 100 percent with Ray Price who said: “Racism is not the problem in Zimbabwean cricket. Bad cricket management is the problem.” It’s now about getting the correct personnel involved and people with the requisite skills to be able to run an organisation as big as Zimbabwe Cricket. I’m pretty hopeful that this episode will prove to be the catalyst that brings people’s attention to the changes that need to occur within Zimbabwean cricket. Throughout sports organisations, you definitely need a balance between former players, who understand the needs of professional players, and people with good corporate acumen and proven track records in the business world. We need more cricketers involved in decision-making at the top level and on the board. I would like to believe that decision-making in the future will be in the game’s best interest. It would ensure that there is a pathway for the next generation of cricketers. My son loves his cricket and, if he’s good enough to play at a professional level, I want him to be able to have the opportunity to do so in Zimbabwe and for his country of birth. In the past, cricketers have had to leave Zimbabwe and we have lost them forever.

Coaching career

In August 2009, was appointed as the bowling coach of Zimbabwean cricket national team. He was also given the responsibility of working with the young Zimbabwean fast bowlers and for franchise cricket.

Later it also appeared that Heath Streak is the most possible candidate for the head coach job of Zimbabwean national team when the contract of Walter Chwaguta ends. It is believed that Walter Chwaguta will be Streak's assistant coach.

In 2010 along with his former teammate Grant Flower, he joint as supporting coach of Zimbabwe under former English cricketer Alan Butcher. Flower became batting coach and Streak was named as bowling coach.

In 2013, Streak contract was not renewed for financial reasons. Zimbabwe Cricket had offered Streak a consultancy role but they cannot guarantee him a set number of working days or specific pay which has forced him to stay out of the preparations for Bangladesh series. Finances permitting at his franchise in Bulawayo, the Matabeleland Tuskers, he remained coach there. He was appointed Bangladesh's bowling coach in May 2014 until 2016.

In October 2016, he was appointed Head Coach of the Zimbabwe national cricket team. Streak was tasked with ensuring Zimbabwe qualify for the 2019 World Cup. They did not make it to the world cup, and Streak was forced to resign in early 2018. He was allowed to continue in his role as bowling coach for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.^[5]

References

External links

• http://www.cricinfo.com/zimbabwe/content/story/423665.html
• http://www.cricinfo.com/zimbabwe/content/story/421979.html
• Heath Streak at ESPNcricinfo